Tuesday 7th July 2020
From Vision For Warminster:
The Warminster Journal front page lead story last week about the future of the town library has seen retired schoolteacher and lifelong user Terry Cross canvassing and encouraging his friends to respond to the Wiltshire Council Covid survey.
“Books are so important,” said 78-year-old Terry who has taught home and abroad. “From the age of eleven I have borrowed books from Warminster library.”
“I was a pupil at Frome Grammar School when I asked a schoolmate ‘where did you get that book?”
“That saw me enthusiastically go the library in The Close where I did not dare step on the squeaky floorboard as librarian Mr. Hall demanded absolute silence, all those years ago, then Portway House, and of course now the modern one.”
The library has been a major help throughout his life from the days as a student to now being a pensioner.
“I needed special reads for my degree studies and the library was invaluable and free,” explained Terry.
“I think the library remains inspirational. I like browsing quietly looking for a new read.”
“It is also home to the book club where up to 15 of us meet up once a month sharing our views of the same book.”
Terry has firm views about which option should temporarily be adopted during the emergence from pandemic lockdown.
The pensioner does not have internet access at home and relies on occasional research and being able to read and send e-mails which is a modern requirement.
“I could only apply for a visa to visit one of my holiday destinations on-line,” explained the septuagenarian who taught in far flung places like Saudi Arabia.
“It has to be option three,” said the bookworm who borrows a book a week on average.
In council speak this option is “A socially distanced service offering some access to browse stock and use computers. This would operate in up to six libraries from the end of August and a maximum of a further four, subject to staff capacity and social distancing requirements.’
“Options one and two are essentially the same,” said Terry.
Those two options allow no or seveerly limited access.
“It should be easy to socially distance at the computers and have people move on after their session.”
“There should be no eating or drinking at the computers.”
“Option three is the one that continue the semblance of a real library. One needs to be able to look and make choices from books displayed which is the joy of a library.”
“Should this survey go unresponded to it will be the an easy step to close library services in the town.”
